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Many people dread conflict and actively avoid situations that might be conflict prone. Unfortunately, this is nearly impossible if you want to be successful at work. Fortunately, there are some surprising benefits of conflict. Think of a time you got into an argument with a romantic partner. Remember how the conflict was horrible while you were in the middle of it. But once you resolved […]

You might wonder what authenticity has to do with starting or growing a business? Authenticity creates trust. And investors have to trust you to give you money. Employees have to trust you to even hire on in the first place and then follow your lead. It will probably even be hard to get started if people don’t trust you. Would […]

Now lots of you in the startup world have a high IQ. And yes. Being really smart helps a lot, especially when you’re starting a business. IQ is not enough though, to grow a business. What’s essential for growing a business is emotional intelligence. Growth requires managing relationships – Board, investors, team. It requires handling conflict, sometimes nasty ones. It […]

Yesterday, the San Francisco Chronicle featured an article about Stanford Professor Tina Seelig. Professor Seelig, a 30 year engineering prof and Executive Director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program is a creativity guru. Not only does she teach a class on Creativity and Innovation at the “d school” (Stanford’s Design School), she has delivered that class free online to 41,000 […]

Despite your seat at the table as an investor or board member, you have a rather limited view into the workings of your growth company. Sure, you meet regularly with the executive team, review its reports, and crunch through its numbers – but you have virtually no idea what it’s like to work with them, or for them, on a […]

The Golden Rule suggests that “treating others as you want to be treated” is the best way to operate as a human being and thus, as a successful businessperson. And yes, it’s much better than treating others as “less than” yourself. Being demanding, rude, inconsiderate, pompous, condescending or less than polite certainly won’t make you any friends or encourage others […]

I spend lots of time talking and working in the startup/growth company world as a coach, advisor and investor. I am continuously amazed at the lack of attention to the people side of the business. The focus is on product or drug development, technology, business strategy, marketing. All important, yet all on the very tangible, concrete side of the business. […]